Folding baby carriage



May 23, 1950 A. H. KELCH, JR 2,508,398

FOLDING BABY CARRIAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 6, 1947 I N VEN TOR.

May 23, 1950 A. H. KELcH, JR 2,508,398

FOLDING BABY CARRIAGE Filed Jan. 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f FOLDING BABY CARRIAGE Alfred H. Kelch', Jr., Chicago, Ill.

Application January 6, 1947, Serial No. 720,432

` (c1. 2st- 41) Claims. l

The invention relates to vehicles of the perarnbulator type, having a body carried by a frame mounted onwheels, but particularly to vehicles of this type having-a collapsible body and frame. The invention has for itsobjects the provision of a vehicle of this type which is simple of construction, economical to manufacture and highly efficient in use. A y Other objects will appear hereinafter.

1 The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings forming apart. of this specification, and in which 1 Figure. 1 is side elevation of a vehicle embodying the invention arranged in open position for usey4 Figure 2 is a side view of the said vehicle in collapsed position arranged for storage;

Figure 3 is an elevation view from the operators side, in open position for use;

1 Figure 4 is yan enlarged sideV view partly in section of the hinge ofthe body frame in latched position; f l Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side view of the hinge shown in Figure 4 in -unlatchedpositiom v.. Figure '7 is a,- section taken on line 1-l of Figure 4; vr

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a fragmentary portion of the body frame equipped with means for yieldably attaching a supporting frame member and the handle for the operator;

Figure 9 is a dual side view of Figure 8, illustrating the movement of parts attaching the snpporting frame with the body frame; and

Figure 10 is a section of Figure 8, `taken on line IU-l of Figure 8.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings and comprehensibly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 conceives such a, vehicle having a horizontally folding frame 20, a foldable body 27| and a, collapsible top. 22.A The supporting ijrame comprises an outer frame unit having twoZS-fshaped standards 23 held in spaced relation byan'inverted U-shaped brace 24 at the bottom ends of said standards 23 by suitable bolts 25. A reinforcing tube 26 is arranged between the downwardly projecting arms 2'! of the brace 2 4 jand serves to hold the standards 23 in desired vertical alignment. An axle 28 extending through suitable holes in the bottom ends of the standards 23 and arms 21 has its projecting ends equipped with conventional rubber tired wheels 31, suitable for such vehicles. The supporting frame 20 further comprises an inwardly arranged companion frame unit 29 having two S-shaped standards 3B, and an inverted U-shaped brace 3l attached to the bottoms of said standards 30 by suitable bolts 32. A reinforcing tube 33 is arranged between the arms 34 thereof. An axle 35 is mounted through the bottoms of the standards 30, the arms 34 and the reinforcing tube 33 and is also equipped with wheels 38 which are similar to those on the other companion frame. The standards 23 and 3D are pivotally connected intermediate their ends by suitable bolts 36, allowing the inner and outer units to be spread or drawn together, as desired..

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it is to be noted that the wheels 31 carried by the standards 23 overlap the wheels 38 on the standards 30, thereby permitting a more compact folding arrangement.

The foldable body 2| comprises a rectangular frame 4!! having two opposed U-shaped portions 45 hingedly connected by suitable one-way hinges 4I, as best shown in Figures 4 anjd 6. Each of the hinges 4I comprises two companion members 42 and 43 having similar shank portions 44 which are adapted to iit in the ends ofthe U-shaped frame portions 45, where they are secured by suitable rivets 46, as best shown in Figures 4, 6 and 7. The hinge body member 42 is provided with two disc like projections 4l spaced and .adapted to pivotally engage a similarly shaped projection 48 carried by the hingebody member 43 on the hinge pin 49, the projection 4B passing between the projections 41 and limited in movement by the abuttable contact flanges 5t and 5Iv of the body members 42 and 43; An aligned latching mechanism .is arranged in the upper central part of the body members 42 and 43 in suitable recesses 52 and 53 respectively. The recess 53 is provided with a well 54 into which is placed an expansion spring 55 and in contact therewith is a latch lever 56 pivotally mounted on a pin 5l. The latch lever 5B ispprovided with a downwardly projecting jaw 55 positioned and adapted to engage a ledge 59 in the recess 52. The opposite end of the latchlever 53 is provided with a thumb knob 60 by which it may be manually released from engagement. The U- shaped portions 45 of the frame 40,'as best shown in Figure 7, are constructed of inner and outer flat units in strip form, having tubular bead-like edges 6| arranged bead to bead and held in rigid alignment by rivets 46. By this arrangement a 65 rides on a supporting guide bar 66 mountedv between outwardly projecting lugs 61 and 68 at- 4 effect, this is capable of many variations and modications without departing from the spirit of the invention; I therefore do not wish to be limited by the precise details set forth, but desire to avail my self of such forms and arrangements as may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a vehicle of the class described comprising two supporting units; meanspivoting said units for vertical movement; a vertical folding body frame pivotally carried by said supporting units; means for releasably latching said body tached to one U-shaped portion 451m. opposite sides thereof, as will be readily understood. The supporting guide bar 66 is mounted between theY lugs 61 and 68 through suitably' placed holes.

therein and adjusted and secured by the threaded nuts 69. one of its ends to the lug 68 by suitable means and. itsy other; end'. aiXedz to the slid'able carriage 65;v By this; arrangement ifV an additional weightV is eected. a downward'. movement of the vvframe 4.0? will. put the spri1'1g'1.- in greater yetyieldable tension: by movingrthe outer` ends ofthe standards 2'3 and: 3U apart', tlrusl'providingi an simple and' eective means; for givinga springlike action. to thel body' 211;. A11 ornamental' as well as effective cover 1d? shields;the"-sli'dableconnection of. the, standards 30uanri:..itsf.asso'ciated mechanism: from accidental interruption to; the motion of: the: action of the spring 1.0 orinjury to the hands of: the user.

A conventional handle: 12V has the. outer ends of its` arms. adjustably attached. to a. bracketV formed integrally with the 1u'g361 andisset and released by the pull? huttozrznrechanism'. 13'. The bag. structure 14, ofthea body 2| may be of any practical shapev but.- preferably of; a shape similar tor that-shown in Figure; 1f. However, it is: advisable that a plastic coated fabric be used and that it bev attached tor-ther frame 4'0. by suitable hems. Thef top 22: isy attached. to afrar'n'ez portion 45 or. the frame. 40by suitable; lugsl; mounted adjacent the hinges 4| by' rivets 1.6"l To. the upper ends of the lugs- 1.5. a spider plate 11. is pivotably mounted, asisalsoalowerbow 18.y Afront bow 19.- is.- movablyattached tov the forward and. upper= partici. the spider plate 11.Y and carries a visor bowv 8i) which. wheirfolded, is. paralleli with its supporting blow'v 19.4 An intermediate bow 8| is attached to. a central'. part oitheV spider plate l10n which isan@ auxiliary spider. plate. 82, to which. is attached. onxoppositesides thereof the s horteri bows d3. and. 84; Tha cover: material of the top-22 is preferably ai. transparent:l sheet of plastic: fabric.

A toggle action@ brake, having. a brakebeam 85.. comprising outwardly' prozrjectingr blade portions with overhanging gripping lips; 86 on: each end, is so mounted that a1 distortionof'its center portion81will causefthef lips 86Std grip the outer sides of. the tires and prevent. the wheels 31 fromA rotating, asv will be 'readily understood.V A lever 88 isV attached, as shown in Figure .3, atY practicall-y itsV center to the: reinforcing tube 26 and. is provided atv its ends. withtreadlesiaand 98. By pushing thetreadle: 8d forwardly;A the toggleY connection is thrown intosengagemenmandby pressing on' the treadle: 88: the brake: is released.

While I, have. illustratedandl described. a form of.. construction for carrying' my invention. into A tension spring 10 is attached at l 4frame in; open position each of said units being provided with an inverted U-shaped brace; a 'tubular reinforcing member arranged between the: arms.` ofeach. of said U-shaped members; land an axle projected through said tubular reii'iforcing members, the arms of said U-shaped members, and the vertical members of said unit; there being aligned holes" to-i`ecei`ve vsaid axle".

' 2'.' The construction speciied ih. claim 'I in which` one Vof'the twof'supportinguritsi's provided with: a carriage liingz-idly-y connected t'o eachf of its upper ends; a" guide-bar rigidly attached to each side ofthe bod'y frame; anda spring' mounted on said guidebarY betweensd carriage and a supported end of said guide bar.

3. A vehicleframe`A for' a baby carriage: having a-plurali'ty' of'veit'i'cal standards Comprising* two supporting units-1 pivotally connected intermedi'- ate their ends; U-shaped means arranged at their lowerI endsof' said? units adapted" toI hold said standards parallel andj spaced'rl'ation: a body frame pivotally mounted? adjacent'l one ci' its ends t'othe'- upper end' oflv each standard of one supporting'unit'; aicar"1ia`gel pivotally mounted at the upper end of each standard of the other supporting unit'ini parallel relation' to the` pivotal mounting* of said 'two` llfliplfirtiiigv units; out-- wardl-yY extendinglugs nionritediiispaced relation on opposite sides iaiid adlacttheother end of said body framef'a guide bar mounted on l and' between said' lugs at" eaclr sid'ff' said. body frame, -both of said carriages slidabiy mounted on each of said'gui'cief bars'i arranged and adapted to yieldably control the tvv@l Supporting umts.

4. The construction-f specified in: cl'ai'r 3* iir which thei said; bod-yf frame prcvicief with a jack-knife hinge to facilitate the close folding@ thereof;

- 5'. The construetien-fY specified in cla-ini 32 which the said' username is: provided' with a jack knife hingein: c''onibirz'rtion` with.A a held' manually releasabl latch? member.

HL. KELCHL. Jn.

REFERN CTE] I The.; following. references areotxrecord. in the le of. this. patent:

UNITED PATENTS,

N urnber NarneV y ate'f 1,631,498 Me1ni1er` r Janet.- 19er 1,633,364- Knngersmith- June 28.1921.' 1,753,931. Lewis" 8; 19311 noemen' earn-Mfrs" mitarbei-y 'Country Date 554,184 referirsef .Y una- June 3'; ige-3 .588;060" 

